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Oil Wealth Fuels Art Collection Legacy
1 Oct
Summary
- Native American's land allotment turned into oil riches.
- Oil profits funded a vast collection of American Indian art.
- Tulsa now safeguards this significant historical art collection.
Thomas Gilcrease, of Creek heritage, received a 160-acre land allotment in Oklahoma in 1899. This land, near present-day Glenpool, proved to be part of the rich Glenn Pool oilfield, with 32 producing wells on his property by 1917. The substantial income from oil enabled Gilcrease to continue his education and build a career in the oil industry.
His accumulating wealth supported a profound interest in American Indian history, art, and culture. Gilcrease founded the Gilcrease Oil Company in 1922 and expanded his business ventures into ranching, farming, and banking. Simultaneously, he began amassing an extraordinary collection of American Indian art and artifacts, alongside materials related to the American West.
By 1942, Gilcrease established the Thomas Gilcrease Foundation and opened his first museum in San Antonio, Texas. However, seeking a more fitting home for his collection, he relocated it to Tulsa, opening a new museum in 1949. Significant acquisitions included the Western art collection of Dr. Philip G. Cole and the estate of painter Thomas Moran.
Facing financial strain by 1953, the City of Tulsa organized a bond issue in 1954 to acquire Gilcrease's collection. In 1955, he transferred ownership to the city, which renamed the institution the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art. He further deeded the museum buildings and land in 1958, ensuring the preservation of this invaluable cultural heritage for future generations.
